Radical Sources of Change: The Conviction and Practice of Our Disciple Community

Andres Tang

Professor of Christian Thought (Theology and Culture)

  Things are in the process of change and the question is how the change should occur. Over the past five years, HKBTS has gone through many changes. This allows us to gradually experience being in Christ Jesus as always a uniquely different kind of experience. The change that the Seminary has undergone during this time is not confined to its appearance, but can also be found in the soul of the community and within its deep spiritual life. “Actions are in accord with speech” is one thing I can say about it as an insider. But, how can all these changes possible?

  For new students, teachers, and staff, “disciple community” is a term that they quickly encounter upon entering the Seminary and soon afterwards begin to identify with as they become more and more a part of this community. Being a disciple community has become a large part of our identity at the Seminary and this principle lights the path forward. It means that as we undertake or receive theological education, we adopt the attitude that Jesus Christ is our Lord and also adopt the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

  Theological education is a matter of great importance. The psalmist says, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalm 131:1; English Standard Version) Therefore, HKBTS attaches great importance to the exercise of worship, prayer, and spiritual life. Such exercises, which are extra class activities, have become the hallmark of the Seminary. A disciple community must primarily learn to follow Jesus Christ together. In doing so, members highly regard being humble and quiet, as well as practicing listening and patience before God because discerning the word of God and His leading is of the utmost importance. How blessed is this practice! How steady is this experience!

  Within the disciple community, every one of the members is indispensable while none of them have dominance over the others. Only when we follow Jesus—keep looking at Him and not ourselves—can our hearts and our eyes be humble. We achieve this by not being self-interested and not being self-righteous. In these few years, HKBTS has taken the road of discipleship: Being humble before God, thinking of others more than ourselves, admonishing one another when necessary, jointly seeking and discerning the heart of the triune God. Whether inside or outside the classroom, this is the lesson the HKBTS disciple community seeks to learn together.

  Things are in the process of change and the question is how the change takes place. For all these changes there is a radical source. For HKBTS, the source is the conviction and practice of the identity of being a disciple community.

Related Posts

Cross-disciplinary Studies and Good Servant

Wong Fook Kong (Professor of Old Testament) I have been serving at HKTS for over 15 years and have seen the school go through a lot of changes. Overall, the academic level of the school has improved significantly in recent years, and the academic atmosphere has become stronger. In the field of biblical studies, we now have four full-time teachers and three regular part-time teachers. This is the strongest team I have seen in HKTS in more than ten years. Two important factors in the improvement of academic standards are the establishment of the Doctor of Theology (ThD) program and the strengthening of the Master of Theology (ThM) program. The development of these two programs has required teachers to work harder in research and writing; and the growth of the teaching team has become a driving force for the improvement of the level of other courses in the school. I joke with students that they complain about writing papers of only a few thousand words and only having one (very sympathetic) teacher read them, while we as teachers have to write books of more than 100,000 words, and anyone can read our works and criticize them! In contrast, students should be thankful and not complain like the Israelites in the wilderness. ...